Chris Clark, Author at TimelyCare

How Virtual Care Supports K-12 Teachers and Staff

Chris Clark — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:14:53 +0000

Creating a supportive environment where every student can succeed is essential, but it also requires supporting educators. According to a 2023 RAND Report, 23% of teachers said they were likely to leave their jobs by the end of the 2022-23 school year.

Teacher turnover

K-12 workers have the highest burnout rate of any industry in the United States. A staggering 44% say they “always” or “very often” feel burned out at work, according to the 2022 Gallup Panel Workforce Study. College faculty and staff have the second highest rates, following at 35%. Specifically, the report states, “Within the K-12 employee population, teachers are the most burned out, at 52%.”

Teaching is a rewarding but challenging profession, often with lower wages than other public sector jobs. Teachers juggle student dynamics, family interactions, and constantly shifting national and state-level policies. The pandemic exacerbated these challenges and introduced new ones. Complicating matters further, many states face contentious political debates over their K-12 curriculum, affecting educators’ relationships with parents and families. As a result, the profession is grappling with high burnout rates and alarming turnover:

300,000 teachers left the profession between 2020 and 2022, a 3% decline in the workforce
Half of new teachers exit within their first five years
One in four teachers expressed a desire to leave after the 2020-21 school year

Turnover rates in K-12 schools for teachers of color are higher than their white counterparts. Specifically, the turnover rate for Black teachers was 22%, compared to 15% for white teachers in 2022, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. Additionally, Black teachers in the 2023 State of the American Teacher Survey indicated significantly higher rates of burnout compared to their white counterparts.

Failure to retain teachers costs the U.S. $8.5 billion annually. According to the Learning Policy Institute, turnover costs school districts between $20,000 and $30,000 per teacher. Calculate your school or district’s turnover cost using their calculator.

Of course, many teachers remain committed to supporting their students and communities. But they need the support of school leaders, including principals, HR administrators, and superintendents, to prevent burnout and support their holistic well-being. Addressing teacher mental health has never been more urgent, especially for K-12 professionals.

Understanding teacher burnout

Burnout, as described by Psychology Today, is “a state of chronic stress leading to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, and feelings of ineffectiveness.” The National Education Association defines it as when “an educator has exhausted the personal and professional resources necessary for the job.”

High stress levels in the workplace are a factor leading to teacher burnout. This stress diminishes teachers’ effectiveness, negatively affecting the quality of their instruction, classroom management, and relationships with students. A study focused on secondary teacher burnout revealed the following alarming rates:

40% experience low levels of personal accomplishment
38% report high levels of depersonalization
28% suffer from severe emotional exhaustion

Teachers experiencing burnout find it challenging to build positive relationships with students, deliver lessons, and address individual needs. These result in higher teacher absenteeism, early retirements, and increased costs due to the need for substitute teachers. Simply put, burned-out teachers struggle to offer students the crucial support they need.

24/7 Support for K-12 Teachers & Staff

Learn more about how virtual health care can support K-12 employees.

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The effect of burnout on students

A systematic review of studies confirms that “Burned-out teachers negatively affect themselves, their students, and the educational system, leading to negative consequences on class quality and students’ learning outcomes.” Dr. Chris Balow, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, outlines five specific ways:

1. Absenteeism: Teacher absenteeism reduces fourth-grade math achievement by 3.3% and disrupts team planning, affecting up to 25 students per classroom.
2. Student performance: Minor differences in student performance can lower overall school results, impacting student recruitment and retention.
3. Teacher attrition: Burnout leads to teacher attrition, causing 72 lost instructional days and student setbacks.
4. Classroom management: Burnout leads to poor classroom management, resulting in student disruptions and elevated stress levels.
5. High-poverty schools: High-poverty schools, with mostly students of color, have 50% higher teacher turnover, widening the achievement gap.

Addressing teacher burnout is crucial, as it directly impacts student learning by diminishing instruction quality and disrupting the classroom environment. By tackling teacher burnout, we can create a better learning environment for all students.

A virtual solution for K-12 recruitment and retention

To tackle the increasing problem of teacher burnout, schools must prioritize long-term mental health and well-being support. TimelyCare offers a range of features and benefits designed to help academic leaders recruit and retain educators.

1. Convenient 24/7 care

Teachers can connect with on-demand medical or mental health professionals through video or phone anytime, anywhere—evenings, weekends, or on the spot.

2. No cost, no copays

TimelyCare eliminates financial barriers by offering comprehensive health and well-being services without any out-of-pocket costs, copays, or traditional insurance requirements, especially valuable considering educators’ stagnant wages against inflation.

3. Reduced wait times

While scheduling an in-person mental health care appointment can take weeks or months, TimelyCare users can usually connect with an on-demand provider in under five minutes.

4. Diverse provider network

TimelyCare’s diverse and culturally responsive provider network proudly serves educators from all backgrounds. With over half of the mental health providers identifying as people of color, the platform also offers professionals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and speak multiple languages, with translation services available for over 240 languages. Users can meet with a specific provider or select the first available.

5. Peace of mind

TimelyCare is a secure, URAC-accredited, and HIPAA-compliant platform that ensures confidentiality and privacy for its users.

By providing these comprehensive support services, TimelyCare enables academic leaders to create a supportive and inclusive environment that prioritizes teacher well-being. This ultimately leads to higher teacher retention rates and improved overall school performance.

Contact TimelyCare to learn more about health and well-being support for K-12 teachers and staff.

The post How Virtual Care Supports K-12 Teachers and Staff appeared first on TimelyCare.

College Student Mental Health Care in the New Now

Chris Clark — Mon, 17 May 2021 16:30:28 +0000

Nearly half the students surveyed by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse said they could have used more mental health and support services from their colleges in the past six months than they received. The pandemic changed life for college students who have faced a traumatic year filled with academic change and isolation. A return to “normal” or even a “new normal” feels impossible for many students who are simply living in “the new now.” After a year of isolation, separation from friends, emotional distress, and remote learning, students are in a challenging position as they pick up the pieces of their academic career. How can higher education leaders best support mental health care on college campuses as students prepare to reenter?

A Healthy Minds Study fall 2020 student survey found “the highest prevalence rates of both depression and anxiety of any semester of Healthy Minds data to date,” according to Sarah Ketchen Lipson, assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health. “The main story in terms of prevalence,” she says, “is actually not a dramatic spike in fall 2020, but rather the overall trend of rising rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems in college student populations over the last 10 years.”

In addition to rising rates of depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders among college students, a new Student Voice survey found only 15% of college students with poor mental health engaged in counseling services from their campus counseling centers last year. Sixty-three percent of those students grade their colleges’ responses to student mental health and wellness services at a C or lower. Student development professionals and mental health providers must begin with a clear understanding of these realities and challenges in planning mental health services for the upcoming academic year.

Realities for higher education about the college mental health crisis

Published by Kaplan in association with Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, the Student Voice survey captured the perceptions of 2,000 college students one year into life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some key takeaways:

Students continue to have mental health challenges.

65% of college students rate their overall mental health as fair (40%) or poor (25%)
53% of college students report feeling anxious, worried, or scared about their life within the past six months often (35%) or constantly (18%)
75% of LGBTQIA students said their mental health is fair (38%) or poor (37%)

Students aren’t using on-campus counseling from their health centers.

3% of students used in-person counseling provided by their college counseling centers during the pandemic

Campus communication could improve.

41% of students noticed their college shifted from a “call if you need help” to a “we will teach you how to cope” approach during COVID-19
18% of those students said the new approach has been done well

Students with long-term mental health issues need more support.

47% of college students with mental health needs say they could have used additional support
63% of students who were prescribed medication or experienced counseling before college said they could have used additional mental health and wellness support

Scheduling counseling appointments is an obstacle.

15% of students who accessed counseling through their colleges during the pandemic said it was difficult to access services the first time

Peer support is popular, but not effective.

61% of college students said they relied most on friends for emotional support through COVID-19
47% of college students said they could have used more mental health and support services from their colleges

Discover how telehealth supports student mental health

Increased access to mental health care means happier students

Bring TimelyCare to Your Campus

Challenges in providing care for college students

Some of the vulnerabilities in college students include a pre-existing or new-onset psychiatric disorder. Roughly half of the psychiatric disorders begin by age 14 — 75% by age 25. Many students have issues with the inability to manage stress and feelings of exhaustion. Others struggle with overwhelming feelings of anxiety, depression, homesickness, and loneliness. In short, college is a season in life during which mental illness and mental health issues are likely to manifest.

It’s also important to know that while faculty and staff generally expect 18-year-old young people to act like adults, their brain does not fully mature until age 24. The neurological pathways between the emotional, pleasure-seeking, and impulsive centers, and the cortical regions that consider alternative solutions, consequences of actions, and utilize logic and reasoning are still forming. In other words, young adults tend to be ruled by feeling, impulse, and pleasure, which complicates decision making and behavior.

Experiencing life as an adult while acclimating to the demands put on students during the college years can be an overwhelming experience for students. With a growing pressure to do it all and be successful, they often need mental health support. However, they often fail to take advantage of the services provided by the college for reasons such as:

Mental health stigma
Don’t think their problems are big enough
Can’t reach counseling center after hours
Long wait for a first counseling appointment
Inconvenient appointment times
Unaware of available resources or how to gain access
Lack of privacy for a virtual session
Cost of a counseling session

Student reactions about returning to campus

The number of students attending school in person has increased significantly this past year. Governors across the country are prodding, and in some cases, forcing schools back in session. And now that the CDC supports all people 12 and older bring eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, it’s likely that many more colleges will open this coming academic year.

Higher education leaders are cautiously optimistic about the return to normal college life. A flood of announcements from schools outlining their plans has already begun as high school seniors and returning students make decisions about where they will be in the fall. Some students are waiting to decide until they know what to expect on campus, and others are worried about the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

Of course, some students come from stable homes and have not been as significantly affected by COVID-19, while others experienced the loss of a friend or family member or faced housing, financial, and food insecurity challenges. For example, Hispanic and Black individuals are more likely to have been hospitalized or died from COVID-19, lost a job and income, had difficulty paying housing expenses, or experienced food insecurity compared to White people. For these traditionally underserved students, COVID-19 upset an already difficult balancing act, leaving many — at the very least — emotionally exhausted.

A recent study found the most common changes in how students feel now compared to before the pandemic were increased lack of motivation, anxiety, stress, and isolation. For those students who feel overwhelmed from the continued impact of COVID-19, racial stressors, and political unrest, higher education must support them with the mental health and emotional support resources they require.

What schools can do to plan ahead to support campus well-being

While it may seem that this is an insurmountable problem and there are economic, bureaucratic, and logistical obstacles unique to every college campus, higher education leaders can take a strategic approach to overcome barriers, help students understand what care is available, and provide quality resources that will make an impact.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Engage your students.

There’s one simple step to take to help eliminate uncertainty about what to do and how to support and empower students: talk to students. Academic performance and healthier campus communities happen when students are engaged in the collegiate mental health policy decisions and programs that affect them. If your school has an Active Minds chapter, these students are a great first engagement step.

2. Create strategies to assess needs and make data-informed decisions.

Campus leaders should establish and update their plans to assess the mental health of their students, faculty, and staff. They should also collect survey data on an ongoing and scheduled basis on their campus and through participation in national studies. They should then create a strategy for how that data will be used to inform the campus’s efforts to support the community’s mental health. Organizations like The Jed Foundation (JED) ensure that schools have comprehensive systems in place in order to prioritize student mental health and create positive systemic change in the campus community.

3. Equip faculty with the right resources to help college students.

Faculty members can integrate practices and expectations that promote academic success and well-being, such as helping students create a mental health plan, building opportunities for reflection and processing of COVID-19 and current events, and normalizing the use of mental health resources. When faculty are educated on the causes and symptoms of mental health conditions, they are better prepared to identify and help college students.

4. Partner with students who want to help.

Seventy-eight percent of students feel optimistic about their future. What could it look like to harness students’ strengths and treat them as equal partners in developing solutions to today’s challenges? Many institutions have already begun this work by creating student advisory councils, taking a data-driven approach using student surveys, and ensuring diverse representation and perspectives of students when seeking their input.

Learn how telehealth can support mental health needs

TimelyCare helps colleges and universities eliminate barriers to getting students the help they need by offering 24/7 access to high-quality care in all 50 states at no cost to students. Focused on improving the health of student populations, TimelyCare’s campus-wide telehealth solution gives students one point of contact — anytime, anywhere — to access care and immediate treatment for medical or mental health concerns from board-certified physicians and licensed counselors.

Contact TimelyCare for more information about how telehealth services can provide the mental health support your students need.

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Stress Awareness: How to Help College Students Manage and Cope

Chris Clark — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 14:00:15 +0000

College is stressful. A survey of 14,000 first-year college students in eight countries found that 35% struggled with a mental illness. Here in the U.S., college students seeking mental health services report that anxiety is their number one concern. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, stress negatively affects academic performance for nearly one in three college students. With this in mind, how can student development professionals and higher education institutions help students manage stress?

Pandemic-related stress in college students

It’s not news that the coronavirus pandemic elevated levels of stress for most people across the United States. But according to survey results released by the American Psychological Association (APA), young adults ages 18 to 23 experienced the highest stress levels. Nearly 90% of this age group cited education as a significant source of stress. These causes of stress make sense considering college students faced the brunt of uncertainties as colleges closed campuses and transitioned to online learning following the virus outbreak.

In fact, a recent survey from the American College Health Association asked undergraduate students how much distress came from various aspects of their lives. Of students who had experienced challenges with academics in the past 12 months, over 80% of students said academics had caused them moderate or high distress. Additionally, according to a survey by TimelyCare, 82% of college students continue to experience higher than normal levels of stress and anxiety due to COVID-19.

The common college stress in students

Of course, COVID-19 only added to the stress college students experience when they transition to college life. The American Institute of Stress says that in addition to academic performance, variables like culture shock, homesickness, and adjustments in social life can overwhelm first-time students. A bad grade, a fight with a roommate, or the end of a relationship can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, or low self-worth.

Research finds that following high school and into the first two years of college is the most significant increase in anxiety for students. During this transition, sleep disruption fueled by excess caffeine and all-nighters can heighten anxiety. Excessive social media use also causes an increased sense of isolation and additional mental health issues.

There is also the stress of affording college. Tuition in both community and private colleges increases every year. Often overlooked costs like school supplies and books may be a part of why close to 70% of college students work part-time while in college, which forces them to find a balance between their job and their academic success. And, students who work while in college may unknowingly diminish their financial aid eligibility depending on their earnings. “It can actually cost students to have a job,” said Shannon Vasconcelos, director of college finance at Bright Horizons. “Those earning more than about $7,000 will see their income factored into the financial aid calculation.” All of these variables and many others, contribute to the stress in college students.

Signals of student stress

Because signs of stress in college students can be confused with other ailments, it is vital to understand how it affects students so it can be correctly identified. Common signs include:

Emotional symptoms

Feelings of agitation or irritability
Inability to relate, social anxiety
Lowered self-esteem, loneliness, depression
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control

Physical symptoms

Tension headaches, backaches, muscle pains
Chest pain, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, high blood pressure
Stomachaches, pains, nausea
Shakiness, clammy or sweaty hands, tinnitus
Rapid breathing
Difficulty sleeping

Behavioral symptoms

Sudden change in appetite
Avoidance of tasks and responsibilities, social withdrawal
Increased use of alcohol, smoking, drugs
Angry outbursts
Nervous behaviors such as fidgeting or nail biting

Cognitive symptoms

Being forgetful and disorganized
Inability to focus or concentrate
Constantly worrying
Irritability, restlessness, lack of motivation
Incessant stream of thoughts, suicidal thoughts

These are a few of the many signs of stress. It’s important to note that stress affects everyone in different ways. The American Institute of Stress (AIS) identifies 50 signs of stress and notes that there may be even more not yet recognized.

Discover how telehealth supports student mental health

Accessible mental health care means better student well-being

Bring TimelyCare to Your Campus

How higher education can support students

The college environment has been defined as “a system of pressures, practices, and policies intended to influence the development of students toward the attainment of important goals of higher education.” This means that your campus culture has the power to guide the attitudes and priorities of its members. And because the culture of academia fosters pressure and stress, it’s on the leaders to provide resources and support to mitigate the negative effects of stress to promote a healthy culture. Here are five considerations for higher education leaders:

1. Raise awareness to reduce stigma

Student development professionals can support students by raising awareness about college stress and anxiety. The message that the symptoms of stress are common and manageable can reduce the stigma for those who are struggling and increase the likelihood they will reach out for help. The National Institute of Mental Health provides helpful resources to better understand stress and how to manage it.

2. Create spaces on campus that promote calm

The importance of establishing peaceful, relaxing spaces where students can engage in stress management practices is well documented. Specific factors of the physical environment can play a role in decreasing stress as well. For example, the configuration of a room, the color of its walls, and the amount of light it receives can either contribute to or minimize stress. Providing areas for relaxation and optimizing features of physical spaces effectively support stress reduction.The importance of establishing peaceful, relaxing spaces where students can engage in stress management practices is well documented. Specific factors of the physical environment can play a role in decreasing stress as well. For example, the configuration of a room, the color of its walls, and the amount of light it receives can either contribute to or minimize stress. Providing areas for relaxation and optimizing features of physical spaces effectively support stress reduction.

3. Provide support beyond academics

Research demonstrates that both tutorial and social support buffer the consequences stress has on students. Offering resources to assist students with budgeting, managing debt responsibly, and handling the financial aid system can also minimize financial stressors.

4. Promote student success

Navigating the systems and bureaucracy inherent in higher education is stressful to students. College administrators can reduce that stress throughout the school year by minimizing the obstacles impeding the successful navigation of their systems. By improving the quality of services and lessening the barriers that may complicate students’ ability to receive support, colleges improve student satisfaction and equip students to manage the college systems effectively. In doing so, students can build the coping mechanisms to become independent adults capable.

5. Reduce barriers to emotional support

Administrators can also work on reducing barriers for students who need resources for managing stress by offering support to students via phone, online chat, and drop-in sessions. For instance, TimelyCare offers an on-demand emotional support service called TalkNow. This telehealth service provides students easily accessible, high-quality care and immediate treatment for any type of mental health concern — from trouble with an unruly roommate to crisis situations.

Telehealth services like TalkNow eliminate the days or weeks of wait time that a student may encounter to get support from campus counseling resources. It also removes the potential stigma of walking into a counseling center to seek care. And, telehealth services help optimize clinic resources and mental health care staff in delivering quality care to the right students at the right time.

Helping students manage stress improves student outcomes

A survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of college students who dropped out of college found that 64% did not continue with college due to mental illness. Of those students, 45% did not seek help on campus before dropping out. Higher education leaders are in a unique position to facilitate better retention rates — one of the biggest challenges facing higher education.

The implications of lower retention rates are far-reaching. Yes, providing access to education is a major issue. But if students fail to graduate, they can’t gain the value of a postsecondary degree. The failure leaves millions of families with less of an opportunity to advance economically and negatively affects their attitudes toward society and their dreams for a better life.

In an increasingly competitive and results-oriented higher education market, helping college students manage and cope with stress could help countless students and their families, and contribute to economic opportunity.

TimelyCare is ready to help your institution achieve this vision. Focused on improving the health and wellness of student populations, TimelyCare offers colleges and universities virtual mental health resources and services centered around telehealth. TimelyCare’s total health and well-being solution becomes an extension of your current, on-campus health services to improve the mental and physical health of students. With 24/7/365 access to providers in all 50 states, TimelyCare helps your students thrive

To explore how TimelyCare can provide telehealth programs that deliver quality care to your students while helping them manage stress, contact TimelyCare.

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A $60 Million Investment in Delivering the Best Virtual Care for College Students

Chris Clark — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

For colleges and universities partnering with TimelyCare, empowering students to be well and thrive in all aspects of their lives is about to become even easier as the new semester begins.

Following a recent $60 million investment from JMI Equity (JMI), a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies, TimelyCare has big plans to support students and partner institutions by:

Enhancing students’ virtual care experience – We recently welcomed Dr. Nirmal (Nim) Patel as SVP of CareTransformation, whose vast experience includes differentiated knowledge of clinical operations, evidence-based medicine, team-based care and care variation, which enable her to develop innovative care delivery systems with a goal of improving our overall approach to care. We are delighted to have such an accomplished subject matter expert in telehealth, informatics and outcomes-based care join our leadership team and know she will have an impact on student health and well-being for all our partner schools.
Improving our technology – Innovation is a core value at TimelyCare, so in 2021, we will upgrade our technology to include new features that will improve the student experience and make it even easier for students to seek care anytime, anywhere. Several new features, such as chat visits and a first-come, first-served waiting room, will be introduced over the next few months.
Doubling down on our commitment to client success – COVID-19 has forced most of our campus partners to reimagine how to best meet the needs of students, and we are evolving right alongside you. Knowing that most of you are doing more with less—or, at the very least, have had your traditional support functions disrupted—TimelyCare is scaling our client success team to provide even more support, greater responsiveness and improved service. Our dedicated team—Lisa, Abby, Alyssa, Griffin and Traci—will remain in place, and we are recruiting a deeper bench to bolster support for our clients as we continually adapt with you to meet students where they are.
Increasing utilization through enhanced campus marketing efforts – We recently hired Nathan Stewart as our Vice President of Student Marketing to lead awareness efforts and develop tailored campus marketing campaigns to make sure students understand and take advantage of the growing range of services their schools offer through TimelyCare.

“Our mission at TimelyCare is to improve the well-being of college students by making virtual medical and mental health care accessible anytime, anywhere,” said CEO and co-founder Luke Hejl. “With the support of JMI, now TimelyCare can further its reach to serve a greater number of students in need of care.”

To learn more about how this recent investment may benefit your institution specifically, please contact TimelyCare.

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Supporting Student Mental Health During and After the Election

Chris Clark — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:51:26 +0000

The 2020 election season has been a major stressor for many Americans. In fact, 68% of U.S. adults say the 2020 election is a significant source of stress in their life, which is a 30% increase from 2016. When the spotlight turns to college students, 25% of college students experienced clinically significant stress related to the 2016 election – in a time before a global pandemic that gave rise to increased student stress and anxiety. At TimelyCare, our platform data also indicates that student demand for virtual mental health care continues to surge, with mental health visits increasing 32% in October compared to September. How can schools support student mental health in response to an election that is likely to have an extended timeframe?

1. Ensure campus mental health resources are prepared, and that students know how to gain access.

As we’ve previously noted, it’s critical that students know how to access your campus’ mental health resources. During the aftermath of this election, your campus mental health resources need to be ready and available. This may mean scaling up efforts around awareness, and making sure that enough providers are available to meet demand. If demand for mental health services rapidly grows, services like telehealth and other virtual care support options can help your existing resources scale to meet the needs of your students.

“It’s important that, during this time, you are available to listen — not just express your viewpoint,” said Dr. Jan Hall, executive director of mental health at TimelyCare. “Remember: some students will perceive they won and some will perceive they lost when the results are counted.

“Remind students of resources such as virtual care, residence hall advisors, faculty, coaches, administrators and the campus counseling center if they want to process the events by talking to someone.”

2. Encourage students to take breaks from election coverage on television and social media.

The coverage of the election isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon. Plenty of the news on television and social media will continue to be a concern for students. While political discussion can be healthy, it can also cause stress and anxiety. As such, be sure that your mental health awareness campaigns encourage students to take a break from the television and online chatter as much as possible.

3. Promote self-care for students who may need it.

These are already difficult times for students. That’s why self-care should be a top priority for students struggling with their mental health. These self-care suggestions for college students will empower them to confront and manage stress, which will make students, the people they care about and your campus community stronger.

4. Support students avoiding isolation, while maintaining appropriate public health guidelines.

As we move into the cold and flu season, the potential for a “twindemic” of COVID-19 and the flu is increasingly possible. With students needing connection and support, schools must make sure students are aware of public health guidelines to keep them and their friends and family safe and healthy — including recommendations on how to handle high-risk situations and possible exposure to COVID-19.

“As we move forward, remind students that we live in a country where we can have differing opinions and still work together for good,” said Dr. Hall. “Ask students how we can improve and listen better to each other on a college campus.”

Student health and wellness should continue to be a top priority as schools navigate these challenging times. Contact TimelyCare to learn how telehealth can support your students with 24/7 access to medical and mental health care.

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Supporting College Student Well-Being Through Telehealth

Chris Clark — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:17:26 +0000

Uncertainty continues to plague higher ed institutions, as the pandemic, a national reckoning over racial injustices and an economic recession impact campuses and student well-being across the country. It’s with these things in mind that The Chronicle of Higher Education hosted a virtual forum, with support from TimelyCare, featuring a panel of mental health experts from Paul Quinn College, Syracuse University, North Carolina State University and Loyola University New Orleans. These campuses represent a diverse set of student populations and span the gamut in their responses to COVID-19 this semester.

The forum’s timely discussion – occurring on the same day that Inside Higher Ed published a lengthy story about the expansion of teletherapy services in college counseling centers – focused on how these institutions approached student mental health under these unique and continually challenging circumstances.

The current impact on student mental health

NC State made headlines in August when it became one of the first institutions to pivot from in-person instruction to virtual learning, sending most students back home. When asked if there was a rise in demand for mental health services this semester, Dr. Monica Osburn, executive director of the North Carolina State University Counseling Center, noted that the campus was seeing demand come in sporadic waves. Mondays are a particularly high-demand day for counseling services, as students are often isolated and lonely after a weekend of not being able to engage in activities because of the pandemic’s impact.

Dr. Corey Wallack, executive director health and wellness at Syracuse University (where classes are occurring in-person and online), shared that social distancing requirements on campus are making it harder to connect in traditional ways. However, he said that because a majority of campus clinical services are virtual, that students are getting to know their mental health providers in a “more intimate way” because of the new counseling environment.

Sarah Brown, forum moderator and Chronicle senior reporter, asked if Loyola University New Orleans’ high touch approach had been impacted by this semester’s circumstances. Asia Wong, LCSW-BCAS, director of student affairs and student health services at Loyola, said that her campus is reaching out to students via multiple channels, not just student affairs. “Physical and mental health wellbeing require everyone’s input,” said Wong.

At Paul Quinn College, students are still getting used to the idea of mental health support because the mental health program was established less than five years ago, according to Mental Health Clinic Director Dr. Stacia’ Alexander. With all classes online this semester, many challenges arose that the college has had to overcome in reaching students. However, her message to students regarding mental health is simple: “This is the time you need to reach out to us. This is why we’re here,” said Dr. Alexander.

Breaking down barriers to wellness

Colleges and universities are getting creative this semester to reach students, keep them engaged and support their well-being. From virtual support groups and educational social media campaigns to socially distanced activities and on-campus safe spaces for counseling appointments, higher ed is thinking outside the box to care for students’ mental health. One critical piece for many campus counseling centers has been the integration of virtual care through telehealth, as Greta Anderson at Inside Higher Ed recently reported.

When the pandemic began in the spring, many institutions had to navigate complicated state licensure requirements as students left campus. It’s these licensure limitations that led Johns Hopkins University to partner with TimelyCare, according to Dr. Kevin Shollenberger, vice provost for student health and well-being.

“It helps us in reaching a broader group of students that we might not be reaching through our traditional counseling services,” Shollenberger told Inside Higher Ed. “We have been surveying students to get a sense of their experiences … I’ve been struck by the number of students who said that if we didn’t have TimelyCare in place, they wouldn’t have reached out.”

Paul Quinn College, which is also a TimelyCare campus, is actively reaching out to students in a variety of ways to make them aware of the available resources and support. “We reiterate with them to access services with TimelyCare, especially those who are [out of state],” said Dr. Alexander.

How telehealth supports students well-being

Telehealth services support students in critical ways, by eliminating wait times, offering after-hours care and allowing them to select providers who they feel they can connect with. Over the last five months, Johns Hopkins has had more than 1,000 mental health counseling visits through TimelyCare — nearly one quarter of which were after hours. Now more than ever, there is a need to enhance access to mental health services, according to Dr. Alan Dennington, chief medical officer at TimelyCare.

“Before the pandemic, schools perceived telehealth as more of a luxury — something that they thought they would have more time to research and implement,” said Dr. Dennington. “When COVID-19 came along, it became more of an imperative — something that schools felt like they needed to have. They saw the need and benefit.”

Loneliness and anxiety were significant drivers of mental health issues for college students before COVID-19, according to Dr. Dennington. Research by TimelyCare discovered that 85% of college students were experiencing increased stress and anxiety during COVID-19, but only 21% of students had sought emotional support. These statistics revealed that many students dealing with mental health issues were going through that alone and without support.

“One thing that telehealth does for students is it provides access — no matter where you are,” said Dr. Dennington. “We’re seeing an expanded use case of students accessing mental health support who might not have otherwise accessed care.”

As demand for student mental health services rises, schools will have to evaluate how to handle the need for mental health care. Telehealth as an extension of on-campus services enables a higher volume of students to access care, and frees counseling centers and clinics to focus on higher acuity situations where in-person care is required.

If you’re interested in finding out how telehealth can support the physical and mental health needs of your students, contact TimelyCare.

Click here to view The Chronicle of Higher Education’s virtual forum on “Campus Well-being During a Continuing Crisis.”

The post Supporting College Student Well-Being Through Telehealth appeared first on TimelyCare.

Parents Trust Colleges More than Students for COVID-19 Safety, New Survey by TimelyCare Finds

Chris Clark — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:01:00 +0000

Contact: Katie Neal, katie.neal@timely.md, 336-662-3080

When it comes to keeping college students safe from COVID-19, parents put considerably more faith in schools than they do their own children, according to a new survey by TimelyCare, a telehealth company that specializes in higher education. However, parents remain divided about the academic quality and ROI of the education their students will receive this year.

Key findings from the survey fielded last week include:

Just over half (54%) of all parents say their students’ colleges or universities have made health and safety their top priority when determining plans for the fall semester.
At the same time, half (50%) of parents whose students will take classes in person or via a hybrid model say they believe a coronavirus outbreak is likely on their campus (that number jumps to 68% in Florida). Less than half (46%) of these parents thought their campuses would be prepared to handle an outbreak.
Parents are just as concerned about their students’ future job or internship opportunities as they are that their child may become sick with COVID-19 (48% each). Those numbers are significantly higher in California (70% for jobs, 57% for infection), where many students will take classes exclusively online.
The top three things that would boost parents’ confidence in the ability of campuses to support their students as the pandemic continues are 1) on-campus enforcement of social distancing, 2) regular COVID-19 testing and 3) access to 24/7 telehealth resources for physical and mental health.

Parents’ confidence dips when it comes to student behavior and responsibility:

40% of parents do not trust that college students will follow public health guidance such as social distancing, wearing masks and limiting gatherings to small groups.
60% of parents worry students will not follow public health guidance when administrators, faculty and staff are not around to enforce such safety measures.

“The coronavirus has amplified parents’ desire for administrative oversight and more student support services. Now more than ever, parents want colleges and universities to take care of their students,” said Luke Hejl, CEO of TimelyCare. “Resuming classes this fall includes anticipating and addressing the concerns, needs and demands of students and their families. Campus leaders can count on TimelyCare to take the weight of accessing medical and mental health care off parents’ worry list by offering all-in-one telehealth solutions wherever students may be.”

The survey provided additional insights from parents:

Mental health: 71% indicate at least moderate concern for their student’s mental health, and nearly half (46%) are concerned or very concerned. A previous survey by TimelyCare found that an overwhelming majority (85%) of college students continue to experience increased stress and/or anxiety as a result of COVID-19.
ROI: 40% of parents are concerned or very concerned with the value of the financial investment made in their students’ education this fall (46% of parents with students taking online classes only vs. 38% of those of hybrid or in-person learners).
Academics: When it comes to the quality of education they believe their children will receive this semester, parents are fairly split overall, though differences emerge by delivery model. Nearly half (48%) of parents of students in online-only programs are concerned or very concerned compared to just over one-third (36%) of those with students taking hybrid or in-person classes.
Communication: Over half (54%) are satisfied with the COVID-19-related communications from their students’ schools.

TimelyCare is the only student-first telehealth provider that offers a complete care solution for campus health, with on-demand medical care, on-demand mental health counseling, appointment-based counseling, psychiatric support and health coaching programs designed to meet the exact needs of any college or university.

About the Survey

From July 27-29, 2020, TimelyCare conducted a nationwide survey of 591 parents and legal guardians of students enrolled at two-and-four-year colleges and universities regarding the impact of COVID-19 on fall semester plans.

About TimelyCare

Focused on improving the health of student populations, TimelyCare offers universities and colleges a comprehensive, custom program centered around telehealth. TimelyCare’s campus-wide solution gives students one point of contact–anytime, anywhere–to get quality care and immediate treatment for medical or mental health concerns from board certified physicians and licensed counselors. TimelyCare’s telehealth programs optimize clinic resources and support clinic staff in delivering quality care to the right students at the right times. Contact TimelyCare for more information.

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5 Ways Telehealth Supports College Health Centers

Chris Clark — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:30:00 +0000

College health centers are a critical component of support for students in need of physical and mental health care. However, a recent article in The Washington Post raised concerns about the preparedness of college health centers to support the needs of students. This comes at a time when schools are evaluating how to best serve students in the future, and the role of college health centers cannot be understated. Regardless of how schools decide to serve students in upcoming semesters, telehealth services are a key component in the campus healthcare equation that supports and bolsters the efforts of college health centers.

Recognizing the value of college health centers

ACHA said in its support of college health centers, “This is the time to recognize the critical importance of our campus college health centers and the value that they add in student education, wellness, retention, and success.” TimelyCare supports the healthcare resources of colleges and universities to further the efforts of these institutions to care for the health and well-being of students.

Telehealth services like TimelyCare provide high-quality physical and mental health care, along with peace of mind for students and parents. Additionally, telehealth services are well-positioned to support college health centers and answer each of the Post’s five key concerns.

How telehealth answers college health center concerns

Concern: The ability of college health centers to handle an influx of patients in the event of a surge in demand for physical or mental health services.

Answer: Telehealth provides 24/7 access to care, with remote medical assessment and immediate emotional support for students in distress. It accommodates surges in patient volume and can allow health centers to handle an influx of patients by remotely accessing an expanded network of providers who may not be physically on campus.

Concern: Access to licensed, certified medical and mental health providers.

Answer: TimelyCare offers licensed, board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, as well as licensed counselors and behavioral health specialists. All our providers are trained and experienced in working with the college student population.

Concern: Support for students on a campus that may not have a clinic or counseling center.

Answer: In most situations, TimelyCare is an extension of existing healthcare resources. However, we are also able to step into the gap when no on-campus healthcare resources exist and provide physical and mental health care that improves student health and campus wellness.

Concern: The affordability of care for low-income or uninsured students.

Answer: When schools partner with TimelyCare, students gain access to no-cost physical and mental health visits, which removes financial or insurance worries for students.

Concern: Access to care outside of regular business hours, like evenings and weekends.

Answer: Since TimelyCare’s services are 24/7, this eliminates wait times by ensuring students have access to care even if the campus clinic or counseling center is closed.

Telehealth meets the needs of higher education

While these concerns do not apply to every school or college health center situation, some of these concerns are likely heavy on the minds of many higher education leaders. With 85% of students reporting increased stress and anxiety caused primarily by uncertainty about the future of their education, mental health services are likely to be in high demand this fall. And as decisions are made about returning to campus, remaining online, or taking a hybrid approach, there are many possible roadblocks for schools, including major health and safety concerns and government regulations.

TimelyCare values its partnerships in higher education and is ready to meet the unique needs of your institution’s students. If you’d like to discuss how telehealth can improve student wellness, increase student engagement and maximize healthcare resources, contact us today.

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Supporting Students of Color in Higher Education

Chris Clark — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 20:02:06 +0000

Recent studies and surveys, including a survey from TimelyMD, indicate that the mental health of students has significantly worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a story by Sarah Brown in the Chronicle of Higher Education underscores, these mental health concerns are likely to be higher for students of color, whose populations are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the country’s racial tensions and distress.

Unfortunately, students of color don’t often get the mental health help they need. According to a 2018 study, only a third of Latinx students seek care for mental health. The rate is even lower for Black and Asian students — about 25% and 22%, respectively. It’s essential that colleges and universities prepare to support the mental health of students of color, no matter where the learning takes place.

Mental health in communities of color

Americans are struggling with historic levels of mental health problems, but according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, rates of anxiety and depression among Black Americans have risen higher than any other racial or ethnic group, with 41% screening positive for at least one of these conditions. When comparing data from May 21 – 26 and May 28 – June 2, Black Americans who show clinically significant signs of anxiety or depressive disorders jumped from 36% to 41%, which represents approximately 1.4 million more people. Among Asian Americans, those conditions rose from 28% to 34% — a change that represents an increase of about 800,000 people.

How higher education can best support the health and well-being of students of color

As college and university leaders continue to navigate how to best support their students in the middle of a global pandemic, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and growing racial tensions across the country have administrators asking, “How can higher education best support the mental health of students of color?”

1. Reduce the stigma of seeking help.

The stigma of seeking out help is a major deterrent that keeps many people from receiving mental health care when they need it. This fact is also true in communities of color, with one study showing that 63% of African Americans believe that a mental health condition is a personal sign of weakness. As a result, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it. According to the American Psychiatric Association, African Americans are more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care as opposed to mental health specialists.

It’s also more likely that Black students may view seeking help from a mental health provider as a crisis or weakness in their personal faith. Kayla Johnson, a staff psychologist at Prairie View A&M University, told the Chronicle that “for some Black people, going to a therapist means that something must be wrong with you, or that you don’t have enough faith in God. There’s also pressure to keep problems to yourself.” Higher education leaders must create a culture and environment that educates and encourages students on the value of supporting their own mental health.

Not only are there cultural roadblocks that may discourage students of color from talking openly about mental health, but encountering a staff of campus mental health providers that don’t look like the students is also a hindrance, according to Annelle Primm, a senior medical adviser at the Steve Fund—a mental-health-support organization for young people of color. In the Chronicle, she said that some students may decide that “it’s best not to seek help if they can’t seek help from someone with whom they feel comfortable sharing such personal feelings.”

For students seeking care, TimelyMD knows that representation matters and offers a diverse range of licensed medical doctors and mental health providers in each of the 50 states.

2. Remove barriers to access.

Often, college students are forced to wait days (or even weeks) for mental health care, due to limited mental health providers or clinic hours. These types of barriers reduce the number of students that receive care. One example of a school removing barriers to mental health care is Paul Quinn College—a historically Black institution in Dallas. Before Dr. Stacia Alexander arrived in 2018 at Paul Quinn, the institution had a mental health provider on campus for only a few hours each week. As told to Sarah Brown in the Chronicle, once Dr. Alexander took over as the college’s first mental health clinic coordinator, she tried a direct form of outreach by giving her cell phone number to students at orientation. She told them to text her when they were having a bad day.

This personal outreach worked, with many students telling her how excited they were to have a Black therapist to talk with. But the increased demand resulted in students texting her at all hours of the night. To ease the burden and improve access to care, Paul Quinn partnered with TimelyMD—is the leading virtual health and well-being solution for students. With TimelyMD, students can reach a counselor or behavioral health specialist through TimelyCare, which provides 24/7/365 access to a diverse group of mental health providers.

Dr. Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, recently shared on Twitter that the institution’s partnership with TimelyMD is “one of the most innovative things that [Paul Quinn has] done.”

This is one of the most innovative things that we have done. #nationbuilding 2.0 with QuinnCare and @TimelyMD @PaulQuinnTigers @PQCAlumni https://t.co/GJFWGGztE5
— Michael Sorrell (@michaelsorrell) March 13, 2020

3. Increase student awareness of mental health resources.

One of the biggest issues with accessing care, according to Dr. Alexander, is that students don’t know how to access care. Echoing this sentiment, an Active Minds survey found that 55% of students do not know where to go for help for their mental health. With this in mind, college and university leaders need to examine how they communicate with students about mental health resources.

Do faculty and staff know how to identify students that may need mental health support? This knowledge is critical, especially for colleges and universities that continue with remote learning options in the fall. How is your institution proactively communicating with students about how to take care of their mental health? Your plan for communicating your resources to students is just as important as the resources themselves. Be sure that your institution is clearly communicating where and how students can access mental health care.

A telehealth platform can play a vital role in how your campus supports the mental health of students of color. Offering telehealth services as an extension of on-campus resources can help reduce the stigma of seeking help. “A student who may access care via telehealth may not otherwise have sought care,” said Dr. Alan Dennington, TimelyMD chief medical officer. “Telehealth meets students where they are to provide care when and where students need it.”

Beyond providing immediate, accessible medical and mental healthcare of the highest quality, TimelyMD is committed to providing diversity in mental health and medical providers that students are able to connect with for care. Additionally, TimelyMD’s telehealth services remove the barrier of wait times and access to care that is restricted to regular business hours. “With 24/7 access to mental health resources, students can still access a supportive, knowledgeable provider even when the counseling center is closed,” said Dr. Jan Hall, TimelyMD executive director of mental health.

Contact TimelyMD to discover how adding a virtual health and well-being platform can remove barriers to mental health and improve the health and wellness of your campus.

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